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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former
4 State Representative John "Jay" C. Ackerman of Morton, who
5 passed away on July 23, 2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman served in the Illinois House of
7 Representatives from 1979 to 1983 and from 1987 to 1999; during
8 his time in the Capitol he worked with the Legislative
9 Sportsmen's Caucus and helped to establish a State fish and
10 wildlife area in Cass County; he helped bring reform to the
11 Chicago school system, aided in welfare reform, supported the
12 State's truth-in-sentencing law, voted for measures to help
13 senior citizens, promoted agriculture and the preservation of
14 the family farm; and chaired the House Public Utilities
15 Committee; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman was one of the few active farmers to
17 serve in the General Assembly during his tenure; he was a
18 strong supporter of the Second Amendment; he was known as
19 someone who cared more about his constituents and representing
20 the people of his district than being a politician; he was
21 well-liked by all his colleagues and enjoyed socializing; he
22 enjoyed singing "Crazy" and other songs by his favorite artist,
23 Patsy Cline; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman was an avid hunter and fisherman; he,
2 his son, and his sons-in-law were the Winning Boat and Anglers
3 at the July 19, 2007 Department of Natural Resources sponsored
4 Sam Romano Lake Michigan Fishing Tournament in Winthrop Harbor;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman was an accomplished softball player,
7 known for playing in fast-pitch leagues across central Illinois
8 for 40 years; he began by pitching against the barn door during
9 his 4-H league days; he held the record for striking out 18 of
10 21 batters in 7 innings; he matched Eddie Feigner, the King and
11 his Court, in a 4-to-4 tie game, with local media reporting
12 that his pitches were jumping more than the King's; and
 
 
13     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman started in politics due to his
14 dissatisfaction with the limited opportunities young people
15 had to play softball in his hometown; he ran for a seat on the
16 Morton Park District Board and served from 1967 to 1975; he was
17 influential in building the first ball diamonds at Lions Field
18 in Morton; he later served on the Tazewell County board from
19 1972 to 1978; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman was a United States Army veteran,
21 serving two years as a medical technician; he was born on and

 

 

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1 farmed the Ackerman Centennial Farm in Morton; he attended
2 Crandall School, a one-room school house located on the farm;
3 he graduated from Morton High School where he lettered in
4 football and track; and he attended agriculture classes at the
5 University of Illinois; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jay Ackerman was a wonderful husband, father,
7 grandfather, and brother; his passing will be deeply felt by
8 all those who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Joann;
9 his son, Doug (Christine); his daughters, Jody (Mark)
10 Bugaieski, Amy (John) Lacy, and Wendy (Mike) Fox; his sister,
11 Sally Walker; his grandchildren, Rick and Jed Lacy, Kiley and
12 Brock Bugaieski, and Morgan and Hallie Fox; his six nephews;
13 and his many friends, colleagues, former constituents and
14 neighbors; therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of former
18 State Representative John C. "Jay" Ackerman; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the family of former State Representative John C.
21 "Jay" Ackerman as a symbol of our sympathy.